Translation guide
The English word 'none' expresses the absence of people, things, or amounts. In Japanese, this is expressed through negative verbs, negative pronouns, or quantifiers, rather than a single direct equivalent.
To say that there is zero of something, or that no one/nothing from a set exists or applies.
Used with a negative verb to mean 'nothing' or 'not ... anything'. The particle も replaces を or が, and the verb must be negative.
冷蔵庫に何もない。
There is nothing in the fridge.
彼は何も言わなかった。
He said nothing.
Used with a negative verb to mean 'nobody' or 'not ... anyone'. The particle も replaces が or を.
誰も来なかった。
Nobody came.
教室には誰もいなかった。
There was nobody in the classroom.
Used with a negative verb to mean 'not even one' or 'none at all'. The counter word can change (e.g., 一人も, 一個も).
クッキーは一つも残っていない。
There are no cookies left at all.
彼は友達が一人もいない。
He has no friends at all.
Means 'not at all' or 'none'. Used with a negative verb or adjective. More emphatic than simple negation.
お金が全然ない。
I have no money at all.
その映画は全然面白くなかった。
That movie wasn't interesting at all.
A noun meaning 'without' or 'none'. Often used in casual speech or as a suffix. Can stand alone as a short answer.
A: 質問ある？ B: なし。
A: Any questions? B: None.
今日は予定なし。
I have no plans today.
To say that none of a specific set of items or people applies.
Used for two items/people, meaning 'neither' or 'none of the two'. The verb must be negative.
その二つの案はどちらも良くない。
Neither of those two proposals is good.
彼らはどちらも来なかった。
Neither of them came.
Used for three or more items, meaning 'none of them'. The verb must be negative.
これらの本はどれも面白くない。
None of these books are interesting.
候補者はどれも適任ではなかった。
None of the candidates were suitable.
To strongly deny that any part of something is true or acceptable.
A common phrase meaning 'That's not true' or 'None of that is the case'. Used to refute a statement.
A: 彼は怒っているの？ B: いや、そんなことはないよ。
A: Is he angry? B: No, that's not the case at all.
Means 'absolutely none' or 'not at all'. Stronger than 全然ない.
その可能性は全くない。
There is absolutely no chance of that.
To say that a supply or quantity has been exhausted.
Means 'no more' or 'none left'. もう indicates that a previous state has changed.
Means 'out of stock' or 'sold out'. Used in shops or for products.
その商品は品切れです。
That item is out of stock.
English 'none' often corresponds to a negative verb in Japanese, not a single word. Saying 'ナン' or 'ノン' is not Japanese. Always pair a negative form with a quantifier like 何も, 誰も, or 一つも.
全然 (ぜんぜん) is common in everyday speech and can be used with both positive and negative sentences (though traditionally only negative). 全く (まったく) is stronger and more formal, meaning 'completely' or 'absolutely', and is almost always used with negatives when meaning 'none'.
私たちの誰も答えを知らなかった。
None of us knew the answer.
もう一つも残っていない。
I have none left.